Join the MileHighGayGuy Blogging Team!

Are you a new or experienced writer or blogger? Do you want to be? Or maybe you're just some gay guy with something to say? Well, what better forum for you than MileHighGayGuy?

MileHighGayGuy is looking for regular and guest bloggers to write about local news and events, do music and movie reviews, or write opinion or feature pieces from a gay perspective.

These are unpaid positions but offer the opportunity to be published in Colorado's Best Gay Blog (2010, 2011, 2012 OUTstanding Awards, Denver 2012 #WebAwards), expand your audience and gain valuable experience. There's also swag available in the form of free movie and concert tickets, music, books and other cool stuff.

If interested, shoot an email over to Drew Wilson at editor@milehighgayguy.com. And if you've got column or story ideas to pitch, this is the place to do it.

Colorado Springs PrideFEST 24 Vendor Spaces Available

Colorado Springs PrideFest 24 will be held July 19th and 20th at America The Beautiful Park and vendor spaces are available now!

Colorado Springs PrideFest and Parade is the largest gathering of the Gay and Lesbian community in Colorado Springs. The annual outdoor community celebration features a parade, two days of live music, dancing, entertainment, food, information, and merchandise booths.  

The Colorado Springs Police Department and the Gazette have estimated last year's attendance for the parade and festival between 30,000 and 35,000.

Reach Denver's Gay Community With Denver's Best Gay Blog! Start Advertising Today!

Advertise on MileHighGayGuy.com - Colorado's Best Gay Blog - to reach Colorado's gay community, one of the largest gay communities in the United States.

"Bearracuda has placed ads on MileHighGayGuy.com for all of our Denver events and they've provided a huge exposure to our party! Between that and the shout-outs we get from MileHighGayGuy, we've seen our numbers grow and grow. Highly recommended!!" - Matt Mikesell, founder of Bearracuda.

Just click the Advertising page for more information and to get started right away.

And don't forget to 'Like' MileHighGayGuy on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Supreme Court rejects appeal from photographer who wouldn't serve lesbian couple

The Supreme Court announced Monday that it will not hear a case involving a New Mexico photography business that refused to capture the commitment ceremony of a lesbian couple in 2006. The New Mexico Supreme Court has ruled that Elane Photography violated the state's nondiscrimination protections. Elane Photography had asked the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the lawsuit based on First Amendment protections.

Tranifesto: Tranifesto Celebrates Five Years

By Matt Kailey

In April 2014, Tranifesto celebrates five years as a blog. After a couple of shaky experimental posts, my first real blog post was Angie Zapata: A Historic Verdict, about the history-making verdict in the murder trial of Allen Andrade.

In the beginning, I posted almost every day – news items, opinion pieces, interviews, and whatever I thought was interesting or important. Pretty soon, the near-daily blogging became overwhelming, and I set up a twice-weekly schedule – Mondays and Thursdays.

And because I was getting so many questions privately, I decided to introduce the Ask Matt feature, so other people could benefit from the information and so that readers could give their input. That way, the questioner could get more than just my thoughts on the matter. While the feature started out slow, it became so popular that it’s pretty much what I’ve done on the blog for the past couple of years. I’ve loved it, and I think it’s been quite valuable. I hope that readers feel the same.

Get Active With Colorado's Culinary Offerings

Colorado is home to farms, ranches, breweries and wineries that have partnered up with active tours to provide one-of-a-kind experiences. From a jeep tour combined with a wine tasting and yoga followed by a locally-brewed beer, to biking from vineyard to vineyard and a mushroom festival featuring foraging hikes, experience Colorado-grown adventures across the state. Below is a sampling of tours and festivals that not only get the blood pumping but also stimulate the taste buds. For more information, visit www.colorado.com.

Enter to Win A British Summer of Love!

It is British official! The first legally recognized same-sex weddings took place in England and Wales on March 29, 2014. From June 2014 same-sex couples may get married in British Embassies, Consulates and High Commissions, as well as on British military bases. By the end of 2014 gay couples in Civil Partnerships may convert these to marriages. In honor of this incredible step in the direction of universal marraige equality, gaytravel.com has partnered with VisitBritain to bring top of the line information on the new wave of British tourism to our loyal site visitors and fans. And do we have a deal for you....

Enter to win one of 4 GREAT trips to the UK and find out why Britain will be celebrating this summer!

Pet Portraits By Maurice

Immortalize your furry friends with a pet portrait by Maurice Becnel. Clients admire Becnel's ability to capture the essence of a pet's personality in his work.

Says Becnel, "Painting animal portraits, for me, is more fun than it is work. I began painting them several years ago. The first one I did was for a friend on her birthday. Because it was a gift it never dawned on me that other people would commission me to do more. Word got out and before I knew it more and more of the emails I was receiving from my website were going to the dogs! And cats!"

Gay Help Wanted: Ad Sales for MileHighGayGuy, Colorado's Best Gay Blog!

Do you like working in and for the gay community? 

Are you friendly and outgoing?
 
Award-winning MileHighGayGuy.com is seeking advertising sales reps. The position requires someone who is self-motivated, detail-oriented and who, preferably, is familiar with the GLBT community. This is a contract position and pay will be commission-based.
 
To apply, email resume and references to Drew Wilson at Drew@milehighgayguy.com.

Bearracuda Pride in Denver!

Bearracuda's biggest gay pride event of the year will be taking place right here in Denver! With support from Folsom Street Events, Scruff, and MileHighGayGuy, Bearracuda's back in a brand new location for Bearracuda Denver Gay Pride on Friday, June 20.

We welcome back DJ HIFI SEAN from London, our new Denver go-go bears and we are expecting nearly 1000 of Denver's gayest men! 

P.S., DON'T MISS the Bearracuda Heretic Cruise 2015!

Supreme Court Won’t Hear Photographer Discrimination Case

Yesterday the Supreme Court of the United States announced without comment that it won’t hear the case of a New Mexico photography business which claimed its rights were violated when the owner refused to photograph a same-sex wedding and was found in violation of the state’s nondiscrimination law. Owners of Elane Photography said they refused to take the job because it violated their religious beliefs.

“The Supreme Court of the United States today has paved the way for robust enforcement of non-discrimination laws,” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow. “When businesses open their doors to the public, they must abide by the law and not expect special treatment based on personal beliefs.”

Colorado Springs LGBT Health & Wellness Consortium

The next meeting of the Colorado Springs LGBT Health & Wellness Consortium is today from 11:30am-1pm. Check the Community Calendar for more details!

This meeting is for local like-minded and engaged LGBT or LGBT Focused organizations to gather and discuss their organizations goals and efforts and then to collectively explore ways of helping each other accomplish those goals.

By design, the meeting is somewhat informal but does follow a simple agenda:

• Introductions
• Talk about your organizations "boots on the ground" daily efforts.
• What's New - Between last meeting and current meeting?
• Hot Topics - LGBT Issues
• Calendar and Information Sharing

If you would like to be added to the group mailing list (mainly for meeting reminders) please send eMail to charlie@cospride.org.

Nice To See StevieB: Spring Snow

By StevieB
 
Last night I barged into the local Subway sandwich shop as they attempted to close. The heavy rain had begun to switch over to snow. The type of heavy wet snowfall we get in Colorado, right as winter gives up the ghost and lets Spring move in and set up shop.

I entered the Subway to pick up dinner. My eating habits haven't changed since they were established as a twenty five year old bachelor. Around nine o'clock, when I head for home from wherever I happen to be, I typically stop at some fast-food joint to pick up fuel. Fuel that is balanced on my chest, and to be administered as I stretch out in the middle of the bed like a swastika. In my twenties, I would read a book as I pulled French fries out of my chest cleavage, now it's my iPad, usually trolling Scruff.

Last night was typical. A twelve inch sub of some sort, and a six inch for breakfast the next day. A bachelor has to plan head, I would think.

Last night, I ate my sub one handed as my iPad was held in the other. Then, I ate the other sandwich after midnight as I sat watching the heavy wet snowfall hit my window. Spring will be here soon enough.

This post originally appeared on Steven Bennet's website Nice to See StevieB. Republished with permission.

Colorado Chocolate Festival Brings Chocolatey Goodness!

Once again, Mother's Day weekend is ushered in by the popular Colorado Chocolate Festival! Held at the Denver Mart Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, the seventh annual event features the best chocolatiers and chocolate vendors from around the region, sampling and selling chocolates of all kinds - and more!

Last year, more than 25,000 samples of chocolates and sweets were consumed by attendees at the Colorado Chocolate Festival. This year, organizers expect that number to rise. Attendees may also purchase pre-packaged chocolates from the booths, to take home, or give as gifts for Mother's Day.

Special guests are Master Pastry Chef Johannes Busch from Johnson & Wales University and award-winning chocolatier, Robin Autorino of Robin Chocolates. Chef Busch will judge the Chocolate Cake competitions, and will do a live demo on how to make "soft caramel in chocolate shells" Friday evening at 7:00pm. Robin Autorino will demonstrate how to prepare ganache, a chocolate-and-cream based cream used to fill truffles and pastries, at 1:00pm on Saturday. Autorino, who was recently named one of the Top 10 Chocolatiers in North America by Dessert Professional magazine, will also have a booth at the festival both days, sampling and selling her prize-winning truffles. Both demos are free with fair admission.

Chocolate and Beer pairing classes and samples are also on deck, with Chocolate Therapist Julie Pech, both days. And annual favorite events, such as the Chocolate Crown contest to eat the most Hershey Kisses in 1 minute, and the kids' Chocolate Pudding Eating Contest return on Saturday afternoon. Winners get bragging rights and Golden Tickets, worth money at any booth in the festival.

OUT on DVD: Campaign of Hate: Russia and Gay Propaganda

Lucas Documentaries and Breaking Glass Pictures have released adult-film entrepreneur, activist and political columnist Michael Lucas' Campaign of Hate: Russia and Gay Propaganda on DVD today.

As the Olympic torch burned bright in Sochi, Lucas returned to his native country with co-director Scott Stern to shine a light on the truth of LGBT men and women in Russia and their ever-increasing prosecution.